Patents by Inventor Dale R. Setlak

Dale R. Setlak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11587353
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display layer including light transmissive portions and non-transmissive portions. The electronic device may also include a palm biometric image sensor layer beneath the display layer and configured to sense an image of a user's palm positioned above the display layer based upon light reflected from the user's palm passing through the light transmissive portions of the display layer. The electronic device may further include a controller configured to capture image data from the user's palm in cooperation with the palm biometric image sensor layer and determine a surface distortion of the user's palm based upon the image data. The controller may also be configured to perform a biometric authentication of the user's palm based upon the image data and the surface distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost
  • Publication number: 20210081646
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display layer including light transmissive portions and non-transmissive portions. The electronic device may also include a palm biometric image sensor layer beneath the display layer and configured to sense an image of a user's palm positioned above the display layer based upon light reflected from the user's palm passing through the light transmissive portions of the display layer. The electronic device may further include a controller configured to capture image data from the user's palm in cooperation with the palm biometric image sensor layer and determine a surface distortion of the user's palm based upon the image data. The controller may also be configured to perform a biometric authentication of the user's palm based upon the image data and the surface distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: DALE R. SETLAK, GIOVANNI GOZZINI, MOHAMMAD YEKE YAZDANDOOST
  • Patent number: 10867159
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display layer including light transmissive portions and non-transmissive portions. The electronic device may also include a palm biometric image sensor layer beneath the display layer and configured to sense an image of a user's palm positioned above the display layer based upon light reflected from the user's palm passing through the light transmissive portions of the display layer. The electronic device may further include a controller configured to capture image data from the user's palm in cooperation with the palm biometric image sensor layer and determine a surface distortion of the user's palm based upon the image data. The controller may also be configured to perform a biometric authentication of the user's palm based upon the image data and the surface distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Giovanni Gozzini, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost
  • Patent number: 10509940
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a dielectric cover layer defining a finger sensing surface and at least one optical image sensor below the dielectric cover layer. The electronic device may also include at least one optical element associated with the at least one optical image sensor. Light sources may be below the dielectric layer and may be selectively operable in subsets of light sources. A controller may be configured to sequentially operate respective adjacent subsets of light sources while acquiring biometric image data from the at least one optical image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Giovanni Gozzini, Dale R. Setlak
  • Patent number: 10474866
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a spacer between the lower and upper conductive layers to define an air gap therebetween. The finger biometric sensor may also include a finger biometric sensing integrated circuit (IC) above the upper conductive layer and capable of deflecting the upper conductive layer toward the lower conductive layer to change a capacitance thereof based upon pressure applied to the finger biometric sensing IC. A pressure sensing circuit may be coupled to the lower and upper conductive layers to sense the change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak
  • Publication number: 20190278973
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a display layer including light transmissive portions and non-transmissive portions. The electronic device may also include a palm biometric image sensor layer beneath the display layer and configured to sense an image of a user's palm positioned above the display layer based upon light reflected from the user's palm passing through the light transmissive portions of the display layer. The electronic device may further include a controller configured to capture image data from the user's palm in cooperation with the palm biometric image sensor layer and determine a surface distortion of the user's palm based upon the image data. The controller may also be configured to perform a biometric authentication of the user's palm based upon the image data and the surface distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Dale R. SETLAK, Giovanni GOZZINI, Mohammad YEKE YAZDANDOOST
  • Patent number: 10398370
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device may include a device body and a device band coupled to the device body for securing the device to a wrist of a user. The wearable electronic device may also include a wrist biometric sensor carried by one of the device body and the device band. The wrist biometric sensor may include biometric sensing pixels. The wearable electronic device may also include a processor coupled to the wrist biometric sensor and configured to cooperate with the biometric sensing pixels to acquire skin texture pattern images from adjacent portions of the user's wrist, and perform at least one authentication function based upon the skin texture pattern images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael Boshra, Dale R. Setlak
  • Patent number: 10282582
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a dielectric layer having a front surface capable of receiving a user's finger thereon and at least one light source capable of injecting light into the user's finger. The finger biometric sensor may also include image sensors adjacent a back surface of the dielectric layer defining overlapping target areas directed toward the user's finger, and a controller capable of collecting image data from the image sensors based upon diffuse scattering and specular reflections from the user's finger, and generating fingerprint ridge three-dimensional (3D) data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak
  • Publication number: 20190095671
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a dielectric cover layer defining a finger sensing surface and at least one optical image sensor below the dielectric cover layer. The electronic device may also include at least one optical element associated with the at least one optical image sensor. Light sources may be below the dielectric layer and may be selectively operable in subsets of light sources. A controller may be configured to sequentially operate respective adjacent subsets of light sources while acquiring biometric image data from the at least one optical image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Giovanni Gozzini, Dale R. Setlak
  • Publication number: 20190000370
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device may include a device body and a device band coupled to the device body for securing the device to a wrist of a user. The wearable electronic device may also include a wrist biometric sensor carried by one of the device body and the device band. The wrist biometric sensor may include biometric sensing pixels. The wearable electronic device may also include a processor coupled to the wrist biometric sensor and configured to cooperate with the biometric sensing pixels to acquire skin texture pattern images from adjacent portions of the user's wrist, and perform at least one authentication function based upon the skin texture pattern images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Michael BOSHRA, Dale R. SETLAK
  • Publication number: 20180373914
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a spacer between the lower and upper conductive layers to define an air gap therebetween. The finger biometric sensor may also include a finger biometric sensing integrated circuit (IC) above the upper conductive layer and capable of deflecting the upper conductive layer toward the lower conductive layer to change a capacitance thereof based upon pressure applied to the finger biometric sensing IC. A pressure sensing circuit may be coupled to the lower and upper conductive layers to sense the change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventor: DALE R. SETLAK
  • Publication number: 20180225498
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a dielectric layer having a front surface capable of receiving a user's finger thereon and at least one light source capable of injecting light into the user's finger. The finger biometric sensor may also include image sensors adjacent a back surface of the dielectric layer defining overlapping target areas directed toward the user's finger, and a controller capable of collecting image data from the image sensors based upon diffuse scattering and specular reflections from the user's finger, and generating fingerprint ridge three-dimensional (3D) data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Dale R. SETLAK
  • Patent number: 10007830
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a spacer between the lower and upper conductive layers to define an air gap therebetween. The finger biometric sensor may also include a finger biometric sensing integrated circuit (IC) above the upper conductive layer and capable of deflecting the upper conductive layer toward the lower conductive layer to change a capacitance thereof based upon pressure applied to the finger biometric sensing IC. A pressure sensing circuit may be coupled to the lower and upper conductive layers to sense the change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak
  • Patent number: 9898641
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels and processing circuitry coupled thereto. The processing circuitry may be capable of acquiring initial data from the array based upon an initial drive signal level and with a finger positioned adjacent the array, and determining an updated drive signal level based upon the initial data. The processing circuitry may also be capable of acquiring finger biometric data from the array of finger biometric sensing pixels based upon the updated drive signal level and with the finger positioned adjacent the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Minteer, Dale R. Setlak, Albert M. Straub
  • Patent number: 9865040
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that includes an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto and capable of processing the image data from each of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device also includes deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data from each of the plurality of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Martin Subert, Ondrej Konopka, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Publication number: 20170277933
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include an array of finger biometric sensing pixels and processing circuitry coupled thereto. The processing circuitry may be capable of acquiring initial data from the array based upon an initial drive signal level and with a finger positioned adjacent the array, and determining an updated drive signal level based upon the initial data. The processing circuitry may also be capable of acquiring finger biometric data from the array of finger biometric sensing pixels based upon the updated drive signal level and with the finger positioned adjacent the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: GREGORY T. MINTEER, DALE R. SETLAK, ALBERT M. STRAUB
  • Publication number: 20170270646
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that includes an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto and capable of processing the image data from each of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device also includes deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data from each of the plurality of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: DALE R. SETLAK, MARTIN SUBERT, ONDREJ KONOPKA, PETR KOHOUT, PAVEL MRAZEK, GIOVANNI GOZZINI
  • Publication number: 20170270336
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a spacer between the lower and upper conductive layers to define an air gap therebetween. The finger biometric sensor may also include a finger biometric sensing integrated circuit (IC) above the upper conductive layer and capable of deflecting the upper conductive layer toward the lower conductive layer to change a capacitance thereof based upon pressure applied to the finger biometric sensing IC. A pressure sensing circuit may be coupled to the lower and upper conductive layers to sense the change in capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: DALE R. SETLAK
  • Patent number: 9741101
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor that includes an array of electric field sensing pixels and image data output circuitry coupled thereto and capable of processing the image data from each of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels. The electronic device may also include a dielectric layer over the array of electric field sensing pixels and causing electric field diffusion so that the image data output circuitry generates image data corresponding to a blurred finger image. The electronic device also includes deblurring circuitry coupled to the image data output circuitry and capable of processing the image data from each of the plurality of sub-arrays of the array of electric field sensing pixels to produce processed image data representative of a deblurred finger image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Martin Subert, Ondrej Konopka, Petr Kohout, Pavel Mrazek, Giovanni Gozzini
  • Patent number: 9734380
    Abstract: A finger biometric sensor may include a lower conductive layer, an upper conductive layer, and a spacer between the lower and upper conductive layers to define an air gap therebetween. The finger biometric sensor may also include a finger biometric sensing integrated circuit (IC) above the upper conductive layer and capable of deflecting the upper conductive layer toward the lower conductive layer to change a capacitance thereof based upon pressure applied to the finger biometric sensing IC. A pressure sensing circuit may be coupled to the lower and upper conductive layers to sense the change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Dale R. Setlak